MOTIVATIONAL | PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

Sittin’ in the Art of Livin’ with Matthew McConaughey and Co.

A summary of six hours spent on cerebral life mapping from the famous actor and author of Green Lights.

In today’s world, an individual can remove the boundaries requiring physical attendance and reach a massive audience in a live collective.

2.4 million viewers logged into The Art of Livin’ hosted by Matthew McConaughey, and that’s alright, alright, alright!

If you’re on social media, FB, or Insta, you’ve likely seen the invitations to join this “first of its kind” live event. After seeing it on my Insta feed several times, I clicked the “learn more” link and added my name to the list.

With Tony Robbins on the guest speakers list, I had a fair idea of the context, and though I hadn’t heard of McConaughey’s book, Green Lights, I got the gist of the message he wanted to share — and that message is finding the roadmap to MORE.

More what? More of whatever you want in your life: health, wealth, success in business, creativity, or relationships. As someone who is reduced to working from home with fluctuating income streams, I certainly want more.

I’ve participated in these philosophical/motivational events before. I’ve read some Tony Robbins books, have a copy of Rich Dad, Poor Dad somewhere in the basement, and even attended a weekend-long intensive training program with T. Harv Eker, the guru of the Millionaire Mind program.

I was curious if McConaughey would follow the format of the above-mentioned motivational speakers; 1) introduce the same mantras and affirmations for manifesting your desires, and 2) Sell.

That’s a big Texas checkmark on both.

The upsell course package was stamped with a timer to get the “event only” ticket. They also followed the patent sales program by reducing extravagant mentoring courses from $3000+ to $400.

The package grew as the program went on, as did the arbitrary value assigned to it while maintaining the bargain basement price.

This tactic disappointed me as presenter after presenter told of their excessive wealth while establishing their credibility. Tony Robbins, for example, has his hands in over 100 companies that have generated over $7 billion. That’s a billion with a B.

Math isn’t my strong suit, but let’s say half of the attendees (1.2 million) forked over the $400. That’s a tidy $480 million profit.

That’s a big take for a small group invested in assisting humanity to find more of a better quality of life.

The difference between this presentation and others is that McConaughey & Co. doesn’t twist words and employ guilt to get the purchase.

Other less-than-reputable MLM systems like Amway presenters and Time-Share salespeople jump aggressively on guilt, saying such things as, “So you don’t want a better quality of life? Don’t you want abundance or financial freedom? You want to stay in the rat race and retire poor (if at all)?

These guys say, “Hey, if you can’t afford it, or now isn’t the time, then that’s okay. Please take what you can from this and use it. Employ the methods we’re sharing here today and put them to use the best way for you.”

The big difference between McConaughey and the smarmy types like Eker is his intensity and honesty. The Texas-born Academy Award winner looked possessed, born again, and was palpably genuine.

He was also highly emotional. With the interactive format, the actor would sit and thump on a bongo drum between sets of dialogue and read out comments on the giant, scrolling chat screen from the VIP attendees, who, for a fee, were able to join the event via Zoom, while the rest of us watched on YouTube.

The responses, provoked by McConaughey’s monologues, were as honest and raw as his words. Many of the answers hit home with the actor-turned-presenter. A few even left him speechless.

Connection+ Emotion=Powerful stuff.

When I realized this was a day-long event, I moved my viewing from the office to the living room and went on my 45-minute walk on the treadmill, jotting down notes (I only fell off twice) as the Texan and his gang filled the big screen TV.

In his first segment, McConaughey ran down the list of road signs we all see on our path. The list was heavy with call-to-action statements, but one caught my ear.

Road sign #7-Imposter Syndrome.

We read and write about imposter syndrome a lot on Medium, about the perils of comparing ourselves to others and seeking validation for our creative contributions.

This segment held McConaughey’s most personal and powerful confession.

Here’s a quick summary of McConaughey’s confession and revelation.

After hitting his limit with Hollywood culture, the actor pulls up stakes and leaves tinsel town. McConaughey alludes to being awash in the trappings of fame, fortune, and success. As a result, he’s done things he’s not proud of and doesn’t feel good about himself. He suggests he lost his moral compass.

He leaves Hollywood in the rearview mirror and, along the way out, hears of a monastery of sorts and gets an invitation. McConaughey is given directions to where the road ends, and an unmarked trail begins. McConaughey is told that if he makes the 13-mile on-foot pilgrimage, arrives at the retreat, pulls the rope, and rings the bell, he will be welcomed inside.

McConaughey makes the journey, pulls the rope, and rings the bell. The following morning he is paired with Brother Christian. The men go for a walk — a long walk. Over the following four-and-a-half hours, McConaughey walks and purges in a non-stop confession.

Brother Christian only listens, saying nothing.

Awash in tears from his confessional, McConaughey sits in silence, awaiting the words of wisdom from the enlightened monk. Finally, Brother Christian leans close to McConaughey just as the actor’s face fills our screens in a close-up, revealing the response.

Brother Christian’s two-word epiphany hits McConaughey like a Mike Tyson combo.

“Me. Too.”

No one is alone in their sins, worries, fears, regrets, weaknesses, or failings. All of us share the human condition.

After continuing his monologue, McConaughey gets to point #10 — Trust.

He discusses how little we trust; the news, our neighbors, and ourselves. Here, McConaughey challenged us with a direct call to action.

He wants us to increase our trust by 5%. Trust others for their best intentions 5% more. Have 5% more trust in ourselves. Be 5% more trustworthy to others. Have faith in the vibrations of trust.

Then, before handing the baton to the next presenter, McConaughey finishes with a CTA about confessing. It’s good for the soul; it cleanses and clears.

He says, “Wanna be legit? Gotta admit.” And follows it up with, “You must know yourself before you can know others.”

McConaughey leans into the camera with his big Texas grin and says, “Laugh at yourself. We are not as evolved as we think we are.”

Marie Forleo.

I hadn’t known of her, but her credibility seems legitimate. Her segment was brief, but it provided a takeaway I am still thinking about a day later — declaring what you won’t do.

I haven’t done the reading to see if the science backs up her claims, but I’m going to trust 5% more (aren’t I a good student!) that it’s sound.

Forleo speaks on neuroplasticity that the brain simply believes what we tell it most and will work to create that reality. It has no choice.

So, in this case, instead of choosing a positive to meditate and work mantras over to manifest into existence, do the opposite — employ the exercise to remove a negative action.

Examples of what to tell ourselves we won’t do.

“I don’t do overwhelm.”

“I don’t do guilt.”

“I don’t do procrastination.”

“I don’t do coffee and TikTok first thing in the morning.”

“I don’t do doom scrolling bad news or bad Twitter.”

You get it.

This type of mental exercise gives an 8x advantage in making it real.

I already employ a lot of “don’t do’s.” Drama, caring about the opinions of others about me or my writing, platitudes, small talk, and many more, but I have one or two new ones in mind. Ones that deserve the boot.

McConaughey’s Three C’s.

Frankly, I’m tired of typing McConaughey with his two Cees throughout this review, but our host provides three solid C’s in his second segment.

C#1- Change

To facilitate the connection to the meaning, McConaughey asked us to think about meeting our maker, not for judgment but for a review of our lives.

Your chosen entity plays a video of what your life could have been like if you’d only said “yes” instead of “no” to that opportunity. How different might your life have looked had you ignored the fear that kept you from change?

C#2- Courageous

The definition of courage is clear, acting in spite of fear. That fear makes you a little hesitant, and you have a little less confidence, equating to “no change.”

Better the devil you know, right?

This leads to the final C — Confidence.

The lesson delivered here is to do less.

Do less things that rob your confidence.

Don’t work on things you’re bad at — work more on what you’re good at.

McConaughey wraps this segment nicely by explaining why he and his colleagues are giving the presentation.

Persuasion and Influence.

If you want to get where you want to go from where you are, you’ll probably need some help.

A ten-minute intermission comes with the value loaded upsell plastered on the screen with the call-to-action countdown clock ticking away.

The next segment begins with former NFL and College Football star Trent Shelton.

I was not overly impressed by Shelton. He’s the hype, power, urgency, and challenge roaring positivity into the screen.

What put me off was Shelton’s long intro. First, It rolls along with the heavy beats of high-energy music; then, his voice-over introduction begins by stating his credibility by saying he doesn’t have to say the things he goes on and says — at length.

“I could tell you I was a college football legend. I could tell you I was a star NFL player. I could tell you I have over 6 million followers. I could tell you, and on and on.”

I’m not too fond of that approach. It’s annoying. If you’re telling me you could tell me all these things, which alludes to you not telling me these things but telling me the very things you don’t feel the need to tell me — well, I’m annoyed.

Shelton is a motivator, and there is nothing wrong with him or his message. The rest of the cast is giving you the vehicle and sharing the roadmap to a better quality of life — Shelton is the nitro in the tank.

Overall, I found nothing ground-breaking or illuminating in Shelton’s segment. He’s the cheerleader and the coach standing on the sidelines.

The Big Face, Toothy, and the very likable Tony Robbins.

Does anyone not know Tony Robbins? He’s been on the personal development scene for a long time and is a larger-than-life personality. And he seems like a damn good guy.

The setting switches from the Art of Livin’ studio to Robbin’s residence, where the mega-motivational coach sits on a couch, hitting you with that huge grin.

Just try not to feel good looking at this giant man smiling at you with genuine joy. Impossible. His excitement and authenticity are all-encompassing. You want to be his friend.

Robbins does what he does. He speaks, gesticulates with his massive wingspan and frying pan-sized hands, and gets your focus. Once he has your attention, the lessons begin.

He tells us, “Change is automatic; progress isn’t.”

Robbins then asks a question. “What’s the difference between fear and faith? I’ll give you a hint. Both are in your imagination.”

This struck me as interesting. The common denominator between each presenter, aside from excessive wealth, is Faith. While none of the guest speakers declared their religious affiliations, each explicitly references God. Each presenter gives gratitude, respect, and honor to God.

As a Christian, I found this reassuring and comforting undertone. Not long ago, I had a client who’d handed over the writing for their fundraising campaign. The project was a residential development driven by a religious and spiritual purpose. That campaign ran with two catchphrases, and both would apply to The Art of Livin’.

“Capitalism with Tithing” and “Anchored in Faith — Elevated in Vision.”

So, the “Faith is in your imagination” statement puzzled me.

Robbins explains. “Fear is imagination undirected. Faith is you deciding what you’re going to believe in.

The lesson Robbins wishes to impart to us with great sincerity is Control and Direction.

“Fear is like a weed,” says Robbins, “It will grow on its own.” Fear is a red light, one we must punch through.

It’s the same message as the skier seeing the path between the trees, not looking at the trees. Or the race car driver holding steady and driving through the smoke and punching through instead of slamming on the brakes.

Focus on where you want to go, not what you fear.

If you’re still with me, thank you, and I promise to wrap this up soon. It was a day-long event I’m trying to summarize as briefly as possible.

Robbins heads to the end of his presentation with a personal motivational story about pushing his daughter to act on her dreams. Not follow the dream at a convenient pace, but act on it.

Robbins goes on to explain there are three decisions we make in most situations, mostly unconsciously.

1- What are you going to focus on?

2- What does it mean?

3- What am I going to do?

When we focus on something, what emotion or feeling do we attribute to it? Giving it meaning gives it emotion. We have a choice of what those are.

The lesson is to find the most empowering meaning and take the most empowering action.

After Tony Robbins signs off our salesman reappears with a Robbins Bonus Course for the mentoring package. The price jumps again — not the price they are selling you, that stays the same, if you act during the presentation — the arbitrary price.

Concluding Lessons.

Before our famous host returns, the salesman is going to give away the life-changing road map to get us on the road to more. Kidding aside, I like it. It’s focused, clean and achievable.

Rather than explain it, I’ve made a mock up for you.

McConaughey returns to close the event with one final lesson and nine “mile markers” to put on the road to More.

Our cerebral, motivating, and enlightening host has a final call to action.

Turning the meaning around, McConaughey says, “One must serve oneself to serve others.” And, “The more one serves others, the more they serve themselves.”

Be selfish. Practice selfishness. Selfless and selfish are not separate; they coexist.

The Nine Mile Markers on the Road to More.

1- 1-Admit More.

2- Seek More Identity.

3- More Value- The more we define what we value, the better we can achieve it.

4- More Choices.

5- More Balance. Create more quality and quantity.

6- More Joy. Spread more joy, seek more joy, hold more joy.

7- More Cool. Growth is cool; change is cool.

8- More Love.

9- More Selfish.

Finally wrapping up the festival of self-love, McConaughey left us with a nice statement.

“There’s a science to satisfaction, and once you understand that, you can truly discover the art of livin.’”

Was the presentation a bit hokey, with a slick salesman filling the gap during intermissions? Yes. Did I buy into the Roadtrip mentoring package? No, I did not. I can’t afford it, but I doubt I would have bought in even if I could.

Will I implement what I learned and take what I can from The Art of Livin’? Yes. Because the lessons learned from the previous programs I had investigated had one thing in common — I didn’t commit to the task.

Do manifestations work? I think so. I’ve been implementing some of late, and results seem to come. But there’s a caveat. It’s not enough to simply say mantras, even with intention; you must do the work and do it consistently.

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